JP3840067B2 - Output control device, printing device, output control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention receives page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) data created by an external device such as a host computer, analyzes the page description language data, and outputs rasterized raster data to the engine. The present invention relates to a control device, a printing device, an output control method, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, DTP and presentation software on a host computer have become highly functional, and complex drawings can be easily expressed. When printing is performed using these application software, complicated drawing data is converted into optimum PDL data by a printer driver and transmitted to a printer. At this time, the PDL data received by the printer is analyzed by the printer controller, and is developed at high speed according to the command, thereby realizing high-speed and high-quality output without degrading the performance of the printer engine.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when performing gradation drawing in which colors are changed little by little between pixels, the PDL data of the gradation drawing command is transmitted to the printer by the printer driver and developed in the printer controller to calculate all colors in the gradation drawing area. It takes a very long time and requires a large amount of memory if the gradation drawing area is large.
[0004]
Further, when the expansion processing is performed in the printer driver of the host computer, there is a problem that it takes time to transfer data as the amount of data increases, which causes a decrease in the performance of the printer engine.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can improve processing efficiency by skipping pixels for calculating a color every predetermined value. That is.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The output control apparatus according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration.
The gradation rendering processing method selected by the user is an output control device that receives and analyzes the attached page description language data from the external device, and performs expansion processing on the analyzed data. Determination means for determining whether or not gradation drawing for changing the color of an area surrounded by points or three points is instructed, and for an area surrounded by two or three points by the determination means When it is determined that gradation drawing to draw by changing colors is instructed, a thinning level determination unit that determines an interval for calculating a color of a pixel in the gradation drawing region, and a thinning level determined by the thinning level determination unit Drawing data creating means for creating gradation drawing data by means of the thinning level determining means. A processing method and a width calculating means for calculating the width of the gradation drawing area, and a color number calculating means for calculating the number of colors in the gradation drawing area, and the processing method and width calculated by the width calculating means , And the number of colors calculated by the number-of-colors calculation means.
[0009]
The output control method according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration.
An output control method in an output control apparatus in which a gradation drawing processing method selected by a user receives attached page description language data from an external device and analyzes it, and performs expansion processing on the analyzed data. A step of determining whether gradation drawing for changing the color is instructed for an area surrounded by two or three points is specified, and the determination step is surrounded by two or three points When it is determined that gradation drawing for changing the color for the region is instructed, a thinning level determining step for determining an interval for calculating a color of a pixel in the gradation drawing region, and the thinning level determining step A drawing data creation step for creating gradation drawing data according to the determined thinning level; The thinning level determination step includes: a gradation drawing processing method; a width calculation step for calculating a width of the gradation drawing region; and a color number calculation step for calculating the number of colors in the gradation drawing region. The thinning level is determined based on the processing method and width calculated in the calculation step and the number of colors calculated in the color number calculation step.
[0011]
The storage medium according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration.
The processing method of gradation drawing selected by the user receives the attached page description language data from the external device and analyzes it, and the output control device that performs expansion processing on the analyzed data has two or more analyzed data. A determination step for determining whether gradation drawing for changing the color for an area surrounded by three points is instructed, and a color for an area surrounded by two or three points by the determination step. When it is determined that gradation drawing to be drawn is instructed, a gradation level determining step for determining an interval for calculating a color of a pixel in the gradation drawing region, and a gradation according to the thinning level determined by the thinning level determination step A program for executing a drawing data creation step for creating drawing data The thinning level determination step calculates the gradation drawing processing method, the width calculation step for calculating the width of the gradation drawing region, and the number of colors in the gradation drawing region. A color number calculating step, wherein the thinning level is determined based on the processing method and width calculated in the width calculating step and the number of colors calculated in the color number calculating step.
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer system to which the output control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.
[0030]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an external device such as a host computer, which outputs print information (PDL data) generated by an application to the laser beam printer 102 via a predetermined interface. The predetermined interface includes both a bidirectional interface (Centronics) and a network interface.
[0031]
In the laser beam printer 102, reference numeral 105 denotes a printer engine unit which forms a latent image on a photosensitive drum by a known electrophotographic process based on image data, transfers the image onto a sheet, fixes the image, and performs printing. The printer engine unit 105 includes a case where a cartridge is configured.
[0032]
Reference numeral 103 denotes a printer controller unit (controller unit) which is connected to the printer engine 105 and receives code data (ESC code, various PDL data, etc.) sent from an external device 101 such as a host computer. Is generated, and image data is transmitted to the printer engine unit 105 by a predetermined interface means.
[0033]
A panel unit 104 performs an interface with a user (operator). The user can instruct the laser beam printer 102 to perform a predetermined operation by operating the panel unit 104.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the printer engine unit 105 shown in FIG.
[0035]
In FIG. 2, 201 is a printer housing, and 202 is an operation panel. The operation panel 202 includes switches for operation, an LED display, and an LCD display. This is a physical aspect of the panel unit 104 shown in FIG.
[0036]
A control board storage unit 203 stores a printer engine unit 105 that controls the printing process of the printer, and a printer controller unit 103 that controls the entire printer and analyzes data from the host computer and converts it into image data.
[0037]
A paper cassette 210 holds paper and has a mechanism for electrically detecting the paper size by a partition plate (not shown). Reference numeral 211 denotes a cassette paper feed clutch, which separates only one uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper cassette 210 and feeds the separated paper to the paper feed roller 212 by a driving means (not shown). The paper rotates intermittently for each paper and feeds one sheet corresponding to one rotation.
[0038]
Reference numeral 214 denotes a registration shutter, which presses the paper to stop paper feeding. The paper feed roller 212 conveys the leading edge of the paper to the registration shutter 214.
[0039]
Reference numeral 219 denotes a manual feed tray that conveys the leading end of the sheet to the registration shutter 214 by a paper feed clutch 215. With the above configuration, it is possible to selectively feed paper from the paper cassette 210 and the manual paper feed tray 219.
[0040]
The printer engine unit 105 communicates with the printer controller unit 103 using a predetermined communication protocol, determines a paper feeding unit from the paper cassette 210 or the manual feed tray 219 according to an instruction from the printer controller unit 103, and starts printing. In response to the instruction, feeding is started as described above, and the sheet is conveyed to the registration shutter 214. A cartridge 204 has a photosensitive drum 205 and a toner holding unit (not shown).
[0041]
Reference numeral 206 denotes a laser driver, 207 denotes a rotating polygon mirror, 208 denotes a reflecting mirror, and 209 denotes a beam detector. When the sheet is conveyed to the registration shutter 214, a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) that is driven on and off by a laser driver in accordance with image data sent from the printer controller unit 103 is mainly transmitted by a rotary polygon mirror 207. It scans in the scanning direction and is guided onto the photosensitive drum 205 through the reflection mirror 208 to form an image, and scans in the main scanning direction to form a latent image on the main scanning line. In synchronization with the emission of the laser beam, the registration shutter 214 is driven upward to synchronize the conveyance of the paper with the sub-scanning of the laser beam.
[0042]
A beam detector 209 arranged at the start of scanning of the laser beam forms a synchronization signal for determining the image writing timing of main scanning by detecting the laser beam, and sends it to the printer controller unit 103. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed by a conveying roller 213, and the photosensitive drum 205 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), and is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 220, and then transferred onto the sheet. The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is then heated and fixed by the fixing roller 216, passes through the transport roller 217, and is discharged to the discharge tray of the printer housing by the discharge roller 218.
[0043]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a detailed configuration of the printer controller unit 103 shown in FIG.
[0044]
In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a panel interface, which receives various settings and instructions from the operator from the panel unit 104 by data communication with the panel unit 104. A host interface 302 functions as an input / output unit for signals with the external device 101 such as a host computer.
[0045]
Reference numeral 303 denotes an engine interface, which is a signal input / output unit for the printer engine unit 105, which transmits a data signal from an output buffer register (not shown) and controls communication with the printer engine unit 105. A CPU 304 controls the entire printer controller unit 103.
[0046]
A ROM 305 stores a control code for the CPU 304. A data analysis unit 310 analyzes data received by the host interface 302 and distributes the data to a predetermined process. Reference numeral 320 denotes a width calculation unit that calculates the width of an area for gradation drawing when the data analysis unit 310 determines that gradation drawing is performed. A color number calculation unit 321 calculates the number of colors in gradation drawing. A thinning level determination unit 311 determines a gradation drawing thinning level based on the width and the number of colors calculated by the width calculation unit 320 and the color number calculation unit 321.
[0047]
Reference numeral 312 denotes an edge position calculation unit which calculates edge coordinates for each scan line in gradation drawing. A gradation data creation unit 313 creates data for each pixel between edges calculated by the edge position calculation unit. A drawing processing unit 314 develops the created data into raster data.
[0048]
The data analysis unit 310, the width calculation unit 320, the color number calculation unit 321, the thinning determination unit 311, the edge position calculation unit 312, the gradation data creation unit 313, and the drawing processing unit 314 are configured as program modules, for example, ROM305 Stored in
[0049]
A temporary storage RAM 306 is used as a work memory for the CPU 304. A reception buffer 315 temporarily stores data received by the host interface 302.
[0050]
Reference numeral 316 denotes a vertex information memory which stores coordinates and color information designated in gradation drawing. Reference numeral 317 denotes an object memory that stores the gradation image created by the gradation data creation unit 313.
[0051]
A raster memory 318 stores data obtained by developing an object stored in the object memory 317 into a predetermined resolution and gradation by the drawing processing unit 314. Reference numeral 307 denotes an EEPROM which is a nonvolatile memory means.
[0052]
A DMA control unit 308 transfers bitmap data in the image memory to the engine interface 303 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 304. Reference numeral 309 denotes a system bus having an address bus and a data bus.
[0053]
The panel interface 301, the host interface 302, the engine interface 303, the CPU 304, the ROM 305, the RAM 306, the EEPROM 307, and the DMA control unit 308 are each connected to the system bus 309 and can access all functional units on the system bus 309. is there.
[0054]
The control code for controlling the CPU 304 is composed of an OS that performs time-sharing control in units of load modules called tasks according to a system clock (not shown), and a plurality of load modules (tasks) that operate in units of functions. To do.
[0055]
Next, the system on the host side will be described with reference to FIG.
[0056]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional processing configuration in the external device 101 illustrated in FIG.
[0057]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a host computer that outputs print information including print data and control codes to the printing apparatus 300. The host computer 401 is configured as one computer system including a keyboard 411 as an input device and a mouse 412 as a pointing device and a display 410 as a display device. It is assumed that the host computer 401 is operated by a basic OS such as MS-DOS or Windows.
[0058]
On the host computer side, focusing only on the functional part according to the present invention, and broadly classifying the functions on the basic OS, the application 402, the graphic system 403 as image information processing means, the data storage means, and the print data storage control And a spool system 404 including a communication unit and a communication unit with a printing apparatus, and a UI processing unit 405.
[0059]
The application 402 refers to application software that operates on basic software such as a word processor or spreadsheet. The graphic system 403 includes a graphic device interface (hereinafter referred to as GDI) 406 that is a part of the functions of the basic OS and a printer driver 407 that is a device driver dynamically linked from the GDI.
[0060]
Here, the printer driver 407 plays a major role in converting a drawing command called as GDI into the PDL language. A gradation drawing command related to the present invention is received by a GDI drawing command or driver setting, and appropriate processing is performed.
[0061]
The spool system 404 is a system unique to the printer located in the subsequent stage of the graphic system 403. The spool system 408 temporarily stores the PDL data created in the graphic system 403, and reads the PDL data stored in the spooler 408. The printer I / F 409 transmits to the printing apparatus 300.
[0062]
Note that these names and functional frameworks described above may differ slightly depending on the basic OS, but those names and frameworks are not so much for the present invention as long as each technical means described in the present invention can be realized. It's not a big problem.
[0063]
For example, what is called a spooler can be realized by incorporating processing into a module called a print queue in another OS. In general, a host computer 401 including these functional modules includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and various types (not shown). Under the hardware such as an input / output control unit (I / O), software called basic software manages the control, and under the basic software, each application software and system process operate as function modules. It has become.
[0064]
Next, gradation drawing processing according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0065]
When the user creates presentation data or DTP data including a graphic with gradation specified using the application 402 or the like and prints the data, the printer driver 407 converts a drawing command called as GDI into PDL data. At this time, a gradation drawing command is issued for the figure designated for gradation. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, for example, there are three types of gradation drawing commands to be issued. The coordinates of the two vertices of the diagonal corner of the rectangle and the colors of the respective vertices are designated, and the color from one vertex to the other is designated. There is a horizontal gradation specification (Fig. 5) that changes horizontally to the vertex color of Fig. 5 and a vertical gradation specification (Fig. 6) that changes vertically from the color of one vertex to the color of the other vertex. There is a triangular gradation designation (FIG. 7) for designating the coordinates of the three vertices and the colors of the respective vertices and converting the colors within the three vertices.
[0066]
5 to 7 are diagrams showing examples of gradation drawing commands issued by the printer driver 407 shown in FIG.
[0067]
The gradation drawing command is converted into PDL data in the same manner as other drawing commands, and is transmitted to the printing apparatus 300 shown in FIG. When the printer controller 103 receives a gradation drawing command via the host I / F 302, it performs gradation drawing according to the following formula.
[0068]
The color in the rectangular area in the horizontal gradation designation is calculated based on the following formulas (1) to (3).
[0069]
The coordinates of vertex 1 of the rectangle are (X1, Y1), the color is (R1, G1, B1), the coordinates of vertex 2 are (X2, Y2), and the color is (R2, G2, B2). The color (R, G, B) of (X, Y) at the coordinates of a point is
R = (R2 * (X-X1) + R1 * (X2-X)) / (X2 -X1) …… (1)
G = (G2 * (X-X1) + G1 * (X2-X)) / (X2 -X1) …… (2)
B = (B2 * (X-X1) + B1 * (X2-X)) / (X2 -X1) …… (3)
It becomes.
[0070]
The horizontal gradation does not depend on the Y coordinate, and all regions having the same X coordinate are drawn with the same color.
[0071]
The color in the rectangular area in the vertical gradation designation is calculated by the following expressions (4) to (6).
The coordinates of vertex 1 of the rectangle are (X1, Y1), the color is (R1, G1, B1), the coordinates of vertex 2 are (X2, Y2), and the color is (R2, G2, B2). The color (R, G, B) of (X, Y) at the coordinates of a point is
R = (R2 * (Y-Y1) + R1 * (Y2-Y)) / (Y2 -Y1) …… (4)
G = (G2 * (Y-Y1) + G1 * (Y2-Y)) / (Y2 -Y1) …… (5)
B = (B2 * (Y-Y1) + B1 * (Y2-Y)) / (Y2 -Y1) …… (6)
It becomes.
[0072]
The vertical gradation does not depend on the X coordinate, and all regions having the same Y coordinate are drawn with the same color.
[0073]
The color in the triangular area in the triangle gradation designation is calculated by the following equations (7) to (9).
[0074]
The coordinates of vertex 1 of the triangle are (X1, Y1), the color is (R1, G1, B1), the coordinates of vertex 2 are (X2, Y2), the color is (R2, G2, B2), and the coordinates of vertex 3 Is (X3, Y3), the color is (R3, G3 B3), and the color (R, G, B) of (X, Y) at the coordinates of a point in the triangle area is
R = (R1 * S1 + R2 * S2 + R3 * S3) / (S1 + S2 + S3) …… (7)
G = (G1 * S1 + G2 * S2 + G3 * S3) / (S1 + S2 + S3) …… (8)
B = (B1 * S1 + B2 * S2 + B3 * S3) / (S1 + S2 + S3) …… (9)
S1 indicates the area of the triangle with vertex 2, vertex 3, and in-region coordinates (X, Y) as three vertices. S2 indicates vertex 1, vertex 3, and in-region coordinates (X, Y) at three vertices. , S3 indicates the area of the triangle with vertex 1 and vertex 2 and the coordinates (X, Y) in the region as three vertices.
[0075]
Next, the gradation drawing processing operation in the output control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11 and the user interface shown in FIG.
[0076]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing procedure from data reception to output in the printing apparatus 300 shown in FIG. In addition, S501-S511 show each step.
[0077]
When the PDL data is transmitted from the printer I / F 409 of the host computer 401 shown in FIG. 4, the PDL data is received via the host I / F 302 of the printing apparatus 300 (S501), and reception is secured on the RAM 306 sequentially. Store in the buffer 315. Then, the stored data is read from the reception buffer 315 in the data analysis unit 310, command analysis is performed (S502), and processing corresponding to each command is executed. Then, it is determined by command analysis whether or not the command is the gradation drawing processing method (S503), and when it is determined that the command is the gradation drawing processing method, the thinning level determination unit 311 details the thinning parameters shown in FIG. (S504), the process returns to step S502, and data analysis is performed again.
[0078]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S503 that the command is not a gradation drawing processing method by command analysis, it is further determined whether or not the command is a gradation command (S505), and if it is determined that the command is a gradation command, FIG. The thinning level determination unit 311 shown calculates the thinning level in gradation drawing (S506).
[0079]
Then, the calculated thinning level is designated as an enlarged value to the drawing processing unit 314 (S507), and gradation image data is created by the gradation data creating unit 313 according to the thinning level (S508) and stored in the object memory 317. When the creation of gradation image data is completed, the process returns to step S502, and data analysis is performed again.
[0080]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S505 that the command is not a gradation command, it is further determined by the command analysis by the data analysis unit 310 whether the command is a drawing command other than gradation drawing, for example, a command for instructing the end of the page (S509). If it is determined that the command is not an instruction to end the page, drawing data corresponding to the command is created (S510), stored in the object memory 317, and the process returns to step S502 to perform data analysis again.
[0081]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S509 that the command is a page end command by data analysis, the rendering processing unit 314 develops the rendering data stored in the object memory 317 in the raster memory 318 with a predetermined resolution and gradation. Are output (S511), and the process is terminated.
[0082]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to a detailed procedure for calculating a thinning parameter from the gradation processing method in step S504 shown in FIG. S601 to S605 indicate each step.
[0083]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation drawing process selection window displayed on the display 410 of the host computer shown in FIG.
[0084]
First, in step S601, whether or not the gradation processing method selected by the user is “high speed” in the window shown in FIG. 10 is determined. If it is determined that the gradation processing method is “high speed”, “2” is set in the thinning parameter param. Is set (S602), and the process is terminated.
[0085]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (S601) that the speed is not high, it is further determined whether or not the gradation processing method selected by the user is “high image quality” in the window shown in FIG. If it is determined that the image quality is “image quality”, the thinning parameter param is set to “0.5” (S604), and the process ends.
[0086]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S603 that a method other than the above processing method (standard) has been selected, “1” is set to the thinning parameter param (S605), and the thinning parameter calculation processing ends.
[0087]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the thinning level calculation processing in step S506 shown in FIG. S701 to S707 indicate each step.
[0088]
First, the width calculation unit 320 calculates the width of a rectangular area designated by two points by a gradation drawing command or a rectangular area including a triangle designated by three points (S701). At the same time, the color number calculation unit 321 calculates the number of colors (S702).
[0089]
The formula for calculating the width Wd and the number of colors Cnum is (X1, Y1) for the coordinates of the vertex 1 of the two-point specified rectangle, (R1, G1, B1) for the color, and (X2, Y2) for the coordinates of the vertex 2 ), When the color is (R2, G2, B2), the width Wd is
Wd = abs (X2-X1) + 1
And
The number of colors Cnum is
R = abs (R2-R1) +1, G = abs (G2-G1) +1, B = abs (B2-B1) +1, Cnum = max (R, G, B).
[0090]
In addition, the coordinates of vertex 1 of the triangle with 3 points specified are (X1, Y1), the color is (R1, G1, B1), the coordinates of vertex 2 are (X2, Y2), and the color is (R2, G2, B2) When the coordinates of vertex 3 are (X3, Y3) and the color is (R3, G3B3), the width Wd is Wd = max (X1, X2, X3)-min (X1, X2, X3) +1 The number of colors Cnum is R = max (R1, R2, R3)-min (R1, R2, R3) + 1, G = max (G1, G2, G3)-min (G1, G2, G3) +1, B = max (B1, B2, B3)-min (B1, B2, B3) + 1, Cnum = max (R, G, B).
Based on Wd, Cnum and the thinning parameter param calculated by the above calculation formula, the thinning level determination unit 311 determines whether Wd / Cnum * param is “16” or more (S703). If it is determined that it is greater than or equal to “”, the thinning level mabiki is set to “8” (S704), and the process ends.
[0091]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S703 that it is not equal to or greater than 16 ", it is determined whether or not Wd / Cnum * param is greater than or equal to" 8 "and less than" 16 "(S705). If it is determined that the value is 8 or more and less than “16”, the thinning level mabiki is set to “6” (S706), and the process is terminated.
[0092]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S705 that Wd / Cnum * param is less than “8”, the thinning level mabiki is set to “4” (S707), and the process ends.
[0093]
The gradation data creation unit 313 creates gradation image data in accordance with the thinning level calculated by the above method.
[0094]
12 is a diagram showing an example of the thinning level in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and is an example when the thinning level is calculated according to the thinning level calculation flowchart shown in FIG.
[0095]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the fourth data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the gradation image data creation processing in step S506 shown in FIG. S801 to S814 indicate each step.
[0096]
First, the minimum Y-coordinate vertices of three points designated by the triangular gradation are set to “A”, the minimum X-coordinate vertices of the remaining two points are set to “B”, and the remaining vertices are set to “C” (S801).
[0097]
Next, it is determined whether or not the Y coordinate Yb of the vertex B is smaller than the Y coordinate Yc of the vertex C (Yb <Yc) (S802). If it is determined that Yb <Yc, the path for scanning the left edge is determined. “A → B → C”, the path for scanning the right edge is “A → C” (S803), and the Y coordinate Yc of the vertex C is set to the maximum Y coordinate Ymax (S804).
[0098]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S802 that the Y coordinate of vertex B is greater than or equal to the Y coordinate of vertex C, the path scanned by the left edge is “A → B”, and the path scanned by the right edge is “A → C”. → B ”(S805), the Y coordinate Yb of the vertex B is set as the maximum Y coordinate Ymax (S806).
[0099]
When the scanning path is determined, the Y coordinate Ya of the vertex A is set as the minimum Y value Y of the Y coordinate (S807), and the X coordinate Xleft of the left edge and the X coordinate Xright of the right edge in the Y coordinate are determined by the edge position calculation unit 312. Is calculated (S808).
[0100]
Next, the calculated Xleft is set to X (S809), and the color at the coordinates (X, Y) is calculated by the color calculation formula designated by the triangular gradation (S810). The calculated color value is stored in the object memory 317. After calculating the color of the coordinates (X, Y), the thinning level mabiki calculated by the thinning level determination unit 311 is added to X (S811), and X and Xright are compared to determine whether X is larger than Xright. (S812), Steps S810 to S812 are repeated until X becomes larger than Xright.
When it is determined that X is larger than Xright, that is, when the creation of the gradation image for one scan line of the Y coordinate is completed, Y is incremented (S813), and Y and Ymax are compared. It is determined whether or not it is larger than Ymax (S814), and steps S808 to S814 are repeated until Y is larger than Ymax.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S814 that Y is greater than Ymax, the process is terminated.
[0101]
In this manner, the processing efficiency is improved by skipping the pixels for which the color is calculated in step S811 for every fixed value, and the amount of memory used for the color data is reduced.
[0102]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a first gradation image data creation processing example in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and is an example when scan line data is created according to the gradation image creation flowchart shown in FIG. is there.
[0103]
[Second Embodiment]
In the thinning level calculation processing example by the thinning level determination unit 311 in the first embodiment, the calculation is performed based on the width and the number of colors of the rectangular area including the triangular gradation calculated by the width calculation unit 320 and the color number calculation unit 321. However, this embodiment is an example of improving the calculation accuracy and creating a gradation image with an appropriate thinning level. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described.
[0104]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the other thinning level calculation processing in step S504 shown in FIG. S1001 to S1016 indicate each step.
[0105]
First, the vertex of the minimum Y coordinate of the three points designated by the triangular gradation is set as A, the vertex of the minimum X coordinate among the remaining two points is set as B, and the remaining vertex is set as C (S1001). Subsequently, it is determined whether the Y coordinate Yb of the vertex B is smaller than the Y coordinate Yc of the vertex C (Yb <Yc), and when it is determined that the Y coordinate Yb of the vertex B is smaller than the Y coordinate Yc of the vertex C , Y is set to the Y coordinate Yb of the vertex B (S1003), Xleft is set to the X coordinate Xb of the vertex B (S1004), and the coordinates of the right edge when the Y coordinate is Y are connected to the vertex A and the vertex C. Calculate on the line and set to Xright (S1005).
[0106]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1002 that the Y coordinate Yb of the vertex B is greater than the Y coordinate Yc of the vertex C, the Y coordinate Yc of the vertex C is set to Y (S1006), and the X coordinate of the vertex C is set to Xright. (S1007), the coordinates of the left edge at the Y coordinate Y are calculated on the line connecting the vertex A and the vertex B, set to Xleft (S1008), and the process proceeds to step S1009 and subsequent steps.
[0107]
After setting Xleft, Xright, and Y in this way, the left edge (Xleft, Y) color Cleft (S1009) and the right edge (Xright, Y) color Cright are calculated (S1010), and the width is calculated. The calculation unit 320 calculates the width Wd between Xleft and Xright, and the color number calculation unit 321 calculates the number of colors Cnum between Xleft and Xright (S1011). The formula for calculating the width Wd and the number of colors Cnum is: Cleft is (Rleft, Gleft, Bleft), Cright is (Rright, Gright, Bright), the width Wd is Wd = Xright-Xleft +1, and the number of colors Cnum R = abs (Rleft-Rright) +1, G = abs (Gleft-Gright) +1, B = abs (Bleft-Bright) +1, Cnum = max (R, G, B).
[0108]
Whether or not Wd / Cnum * param is equal to or greater than “16” in the thinning level determination unit 311 based on the Wd, Cnum and the thinning parameter param calculated by the width calculation unit 320 and the color number calculation unit 321 by the above calculation formula. It is determined whether or not (S1012), and if it is determined to be “16” or more, the thinning level mabiki is set to “8” (S1013), and the process is terminated.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1012 that the calculated Wd, Cnum and W d / Cnum * param of the thinning parameter param are not “16” or more, Wd / Cnum * param is “8” or more and less than “16”. (S1014), and if it is determined that it is greater than or equal to “8” and less than “16”, the thinning level mabiki is set to “6” (S1015), and the process ends.
[0109]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1014 that it is not more than “8” and less than “16”, for example, if Wd / Cnum * param is less than “8”, the thinning level mabiki is set to “4” (S1016), and the processing is performed. finish.
[0110]
The gradation data creation unit 313 creates gradation image data in accordance with the thinning level calculated by the above method.
[0111]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of thinning levels in the output control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a second gradation image data creation processing example in the output control device according to the present invention.
[0112]
In the first and second embodiments, the description has been given of the case of selecting one of the three types of gradation drawing processing methods. However, the level of selection is made more detailed, and more levels are divided. Thus, a more appropriate thinning level may be selected.
[0113]
In the first and second embodiments, the thinning level calculation method in the thinning level determination unit 311 has been described for the case where the thinning level is divided into three types of thinning levels. Thus, a more appropriate thinning level may be calculated.
[0114]
Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the thinning level calculation method in the thinning level determination unit 311 calculates the thinning level based only on the size and the number of colors. A more appropriate thinning level may be calculated in consideration of influential setting conditions.
[0115]
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the thinning level calculation in the thinning level determination unit 311 and the gradation image creation method in the gradation data creation unit 313 are applied only in the main scanning direction has been described. The same method may be applied to the sub-scanning direction.
[0116]
The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the output control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.
[0117]
FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the output control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.
[0118]
Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.
[0119]
Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.
[0120]
The functions shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 11, 13, and 15 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.
[0121]
As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.
[0122]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0123]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, or the like is used. it can.
[0124]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0125]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0126]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the processing efficiency can be improved by skipping pixels for which the color is calculated for every predetermined value.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system to which an output control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a printer engine unit illustrated in FIG.
3 is a block diagram for explaining a detailed configuration of a printer controller unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional processing configuration in the external device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a gradation drawing command issued by the printer driver shown in FIG. 4;
6 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation drawing command issued by the printer driver shown in FIG.
7 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation drawing command issued by the printer driver shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
10 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation drawing process selection window displayed on the display of the host computer shown in FIG. 4. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a thinning level in the output control device according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a first gradation image data creation process example in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of thinning levels in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a second gradation image data creation processing example in the output control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the output control apparatus according to the invention can be applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
301 Panel I / F
302 Host I / F
304 CPU
305 ROM
306 RAM
307 EEPROM
308 DMA controller
310 Data analysis unit
311 Thinning level determination unit
312 Edge position calculation unit
313 Gradient data creation part
314 Drawing processing unit
315 Receive buffer
316 Vertex information memory
317 Object memory
318 Raster memory

Claims (15)

A user-selected gradation rendering processing method receives an attached page description language data from an external device and analyzes it, and performs an expansion process on the analyzed data.
A judging means for judging whether gradation drawing for rendering the analyzed data by changing the color for an area surrounded by two or three points is instructed;
Determines the interval for calculating the color of the pixels in the gradation drawing area when the determination means determines that gradation drawing for changing the color to the area surrounded by two or three points is instructed. Decimation level determination means for
Drawing data creation means for creating gradation drawing data based on the thinning level determined by the thinning level determination means;
The thinning level determination means includes a gradation drawing processing method, a width calculation means for calculating the width of the gradation drawing area, and a color number calculation means for calculating the number of colors in the gradation drawing area. An output control device, wherein a thinning level is determined based on a calculated processing method and width, and a color number calculated by the color number calculating means.   2. The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device device is capable of selecting a desired gradation drawing processing method via a predetermined user interface.   The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width calculating unit calculates a width of a rectangular area including a gradation drawing area.   In the case of gray output in the gradation drawing area, the color number calculation means uses the difference between the highest luminance level and the lowest luminance level as the number of colors, and in the case of color output, the difference between the highest luminance level and the lowest luminance level for each plane. The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum value is used as the number of colors.   The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width calculating unit calculates a maximum width of all the scan lines in the gradation drawing area. The gradation rendering processing method selected by the user is an output control method in an output control device that receives and analyzes attached page description language data from an external device and performs expansion processing on the analyzed data.
A determination step for determining whether or not gradation drawing for changing the color of the analyzed data to an area surrounded by two or three points is instructed;
When it is determined in the determination step that the gradation drawing for changing the color to the area surrounded by two or three points is instructed, the interval for calculating the color of the pixel in the gradation drawing area is determined. A decimation level determination step,
A drawing data creation step for creating gradation drawing data based on the thinning level determined in the thinning level determination step;
The thinning level determination step includes a gradation drawing processing method and a width calculating step for calculating the width of the gradation drawing area, and a color number calculating step for calculating the number of colors in the gradation drawing area. An output control method comprising: determining a thinning level based on a calculated processing method and width, and a number of colors calculated in the number of colors calculation step.   The output control method according to claim 6, wherein the external device can select a desired gradation drawing processing method via a predetermined user interface.   The output control method according to claim 6, wherein the width calculating step calculates a width of a rectangular area including a gradation drawing area.   The number of colors calculation step uses the difference between the highest luminance level and the lowest luminance level for gray output in the gradation drawing area as the number of colors, and for color output, the difference between the highest luminance level and the lowest luminance level for each plane. 7. The output control method according to claim 6, wherein the maximum value is calculated as the number of colors.   7. The output control method according to claim 6, wherein the width calculating step calculates a maximum width of all scan lines in the gradation drawing area. The output method for the gradation drawing processing method selected by the user receives the attached page description language data from the external device and analyzes it, and performs the expansion processing on the analyzed data.
A determination step for determining whether or not gradation drawing for changing the color of the analyzed data to an area surrounded by two or three points is instructed;
When it is determined in the determination step that the gradation drawing for changing the color to the area surrounded by two or three points is instructed, the interval for calculating the color of the pixel in the gradation drawing area is determined. A decimation level determination step,
A drawing data creation step for creating gradation drawing data based on the thinning level determined in the thinning level determination step;
The thinning level determination step includes a gradation drawing processing method and a width calculating step for calculating the width of the gradation drawing area, and a color number calculating step for calculating the number of colors in the gradation drawing area. A storage medium, wherein a thinning level is determined based on a calculated processing method and width, and a number of colors calculated in the number-of-colors calculating step.   12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the external device can select a desired gradation drawing processing method via a predetermined user interface.   12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the width calculating step calculates a width of a rectangular area including a gradation drawing area.   The number of colors calculation step uses the difference between the highest luminance level and the lowest luminance level for gray output in the gradation drawing area as the number of colors, and for color output, the difference between the highest luminance level and the lowest luminance level for each plane. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the maximum value is calculated as the number of colors.   12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the width calculating step calculates a maximum width of all scan lines in the gradation drawing area.

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